If you like robots.. here's the worlds fastest running robot.. :)

[william howell]

A ex-coworker recently started a company to produce running robots based on principals we pioneered... I helped him with the kickstarter video, and now it's been accepted to the "staff pick's" section..

even if you don't want to purchase one, check out the video... it's pretty cool, and a good example of what i'm asked to do on a daily basis.. by about 40 different researchers..

my world gets hectic..

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/138364285/outrunner-the-worlds-most-advanced-running-robot

 

[Burke Doeren]

Great video!

That robot is awesome and pleasantly creepy all at the same time. Can't wait to see the production version in stores.

 

[Philip Lanyon]

Who doesn't love robots?

Nice!

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Interesting concept indeed... Now imagine a EpicSized one... Now that would be a cool new camera rig...

 

[william howell]

Interesting concept indeed... Now imagine a EpicSized one... Now that would be a cool new camera rig...

i strapped goPro's to the big robot in the video.. It's kind of like watching the view from Luke's X wing whizzing past the death start gun turrets in a new hope.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

He he...

 

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Looks super cool. However it's uncomfortably close to pretty old technology called "the wheel". I would be interested to see this handle terrain that wheels don't normally do well in.

 

[ericyoung]

I wonder how it's steering. Also the test would be how well it copes with a stumble or being pushed sideways suddenly by wind gusts or other forces.

 

[william howell]

Looks super cool. However it's uncomfortably close to pretty old technology called "the wheel". I would be interested to see this handle terrain that wheels don't normally do well in.

Actually... the wheel resemblance has nothing to do with the physics of why it works. In fact.. This robot was born out of the necessity to understand what gravitational forces we need to account for in order to achieve stability at running speed. We've actually constructed much more elaborate robotic systems than this, some that emulate ostrich's and horse's legs/drive trains.. The big brother to this one has reciprocating legs... but... that's for another conversation.

They're much bigger and definitely not as cute as the outRunner.

The robot achieves a flight phase, meaning that there are moments between each step where the robot has no contact with the ground.


We've demonstrated this robot on rough terrain, and I'm pretty sure they'll have some videos up in the next day or two showing it running and jumping on all sorts of stuff.

 

[Les Dittert]

I don't think it will be a commercial success unless it can go very slowly as well. Can it?

 

[william howell]

I don't think it will be a commercial success unless it can go very slowly as well. Can it?

Well... that's a tricky question... because, the robot we designed was built to run at a specific speed... but.. We've already designed a version (which will be the one that ships to whomever invests) that will start from a standing position and ramp up to speed.

This robot was born out of the research world... we all looked at it and said "that'd make an awesome toy"... so.. if the kickstarter campaign is successful, then it will be...

the next versions, if the kickstarter campaign is successful, will be smaller and lighter... there's talk about making one that runs over water...

 

[Les Dittert]

Well... that's a tricky question... because, the robot we designed was built to run at a specific speed... but.. We've already designed a version (which will be the one that ships to whomever invests) that will start from a standing position and ramp up to speed.

This robot was born out of the research world... we all looked at it and said "that'd make an awesome toy"... so.. if the kickstarter campaign is successful, then it will be...

the next versions, if the kickstarter campaign is successful, will be smaller and lighter... there's talk about making one that runs over water...

For water : just 3d print some flex duck feet for it

 

[william howell]